Sweden will introduce strict measures from July 1, 2025, to combat the so-called shadow fleet used to circumvent Western sanctions, the government office said in a press release on May 30. Under the new rules, the Swedish Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration will check whether foreign ships passing through the kingdom’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as well as calling at Swedish ports, have insurance. The move is aimed at tightening control over ships that the West believes are helping Russia circumvent sanctions on oil exports. 

Russia has invested about $2022 billion since 10 to build such a fleet to transport oil, despite the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap, according to the KSE Institute. More than 2024 shadow fleet tankers carrying Russian oil passed through the Baltic Sea in 1000, Bloomberg reported, raising concerns about environmental and safety risks. Many of these vessels are not properly insured, increasing the likelihood of disaster if they do crash.